Our Best Brunch Cocktails to Start Your Morning Off Right

While cocktails are usually reserved for after five o'clock during the week, all bets are off come the weekend, as there's no better way to kick off brunch than with a drink to go alongside your eggs Benedict, stack of pancakes, or basket of breakfast pastries. From the classics like mimosas and Bloody Marys to modern spritzes and micheladas, we've got brunch cocktails galore for you to choose from. Whether it's a special-occasion brunch or a casual Sunday with friends, we've got something for everyone. Check out our all-time favorite recipes for day drinking below.

In this lighter and brighter, albeit far more involved, take on the classic tomato-laced brunch cocktail, the usual vodka is swapped out for Gamle Ode's dill-infused aquavit, a strikingly herbaceous take on the Scandinavian spirit from a Minnesota producer. Get the recipe for The Ultimate Bloody Mary »Matt Taylor-Gross

For this take on a classic beer cocktail from Taqueria Mi Lindo Apatzingan in Rio Linda, Tajín (a Mexican seasoning blend of dried chiles, lime, and salt) adds both heat and tang. Get the recipe for Spicy Michelada »Dylan + Jeni

Inspired by our list of Friday cocktails, bartender Michael Neff noticed that bitter flavors were prominent, as were fizzy drinks made with fresh fruit and herbs. To that end, he created a modified Pimm's Cup, using Cynar to add a bit more bitter tang and ginger beer for spice. Fresh fruit and herbs round out the (almost) traditional summer refresher. Get the recipe for Pimm's Cup #21 »Matt Taylor-Gross

Imparting a festive green glow to the de rigueur citrus and Champagne brunch cocktail, absinthe lends a noticeably herbal bite and serves as a natural aperitif. Get the recipe for Ginger-Absinthe Mimosa »Marcus Nilsson

This spritz cocktail swaps in a red wine aperitif in place of Aperol, for a cocktail with more pronounced red berry notes, and still plenty of effervescence. Get the recipe for Moto Guzzi »Matt Taylor-Gross

Vodka, coffee, coffee liqueur, and cream are mixed with vanilla liqueur in this cocktail, which sits somewhere between a classic espresso martini and a White Russian. Get the recipe for Espresso Martini »Ingalls Photography

This spritz strikes the perfect balance between bitter and sweet, thanks to the combination of liqueurs—gentian, Calvados, and rhubarb—and a splash of raspberry vinegar. Get the recipe for Gentian Spritz »Nicole Franzen

Along with the bloody mary, this creamy cocktail is a New Orleans brunch mainstay. It features an aromatic cognac named for the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte that's aged at least five years. Get the recipe for Brennan's Brandy Milk Punch »Todd Coleman

The vegetal sweetness of licorice-like fennel pairs beautifully with tart grapefruit and smoky mescal in this cocktail from the Manhattan restaurant Perla. Get the recipe for Fennel Delight »Andrew Ingalls

Drew Hamm at Henry's in Chicago makes a toasty spin on the traditional Irish coffee by adding Flor de Cana rum and a cinnamon syrup to the usual Irish whiskey base. Get the recipe for Irish Coffee Riff »Matt Taylor-Gross

Popularized by the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock, this classic cocktail is part of a succession of "Corpse Revivers" originally devised as a hangover cure. An ice-cold nip of this elixir is refreshing, astringent, and strong enough to perk up the senses—reviving, indeed. Get the recipe for Corpse Reviver No. 2 »Helen Rosner

Caraway Fizz

This white wine-based cocktail from Brooklyn, New York's Café Moto starts off summery, with the aromas of fresh basil and mint and an effervescent topper of club soda. Get the recipe for The Saint »Farideh Sadeghin

This mezcal-based cocktail from Portland, Oregon restaurant Toro Bravo hits all the right notes: smoky, tart, and sweet, with just the slightest hint of salt. They use Maraska maraschino for its sweet, subtle almond flavor, but you can substitute whatever brand you have on hand. Get the recipe for Rising Sun »Farideh Sadeghin

A twist on the British classic, this summer cooler takes on spicy, herbal notes from Kaffir lime leaves, while strawberries lend sweet balance to the pleasingly bitter liqueur. Get the recipe for Strawberry Pimm's Cup »Todd Coleman